District 65 Media Arts: Communicating through Digital Media District 65’s Media Arts Programs offer introductory and advanced programs in video, photography, graphics, animation, digital imaging, and writing. Students learn to craft, produce, and deliver projects using digital resources to effectively communicate their ideas. The program offers rotations that use various digital tools to create artistic projects. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students may participate in a variety of classes that explore the use of digital media. 6th Grade District 65's 6th grade Media Arts program offers students the opportunity to learn digital photography techniques and concepts using still cameras. Students learn basic image manipulation techniques in programs such as iPhoto and Photoshop, and incorporate their images into multimedia narratives using iMovie and Garage Band. Students also explore stop-motion animation techniques using programs such as Photobooth, Photoshop, and iMovie. They explore themes of place, environment and community. Students also learn to assess, critique, and evaluate their own work and the work of their peers using media arts vocabulary.7th Grade District 65's 7th grade Media Arts program offers students the opportunity to explore themes of self, culture and consumerism through an in depth use of Photoshop. Students use Photoshop tools to create images using self-portraiture, perspective, surrealism, selective color, landscape, and character development. Students learn to describe, analyze, and interpret images from visual artists who work in Photoshop and Photography. 8th Grade District 65's 8th grade Media Arts program offers students the opportunity to communicate about ideas and issues through time-based media and video. Students use programs such as Photoshop, Flash, iMovie, and Garage Band to create narratives through animation. Students use video to create documentaries, podcasts, and other time-based media projects. Students present their final projects to various school and community audiences and gain experience in public speaking and presenting their ideas to an audience using multimedia.